Levelling , or Levellers (of the English to level which means to level ; word appeared in 1607 during an agrarian revolution) were a group of men who met during the English Civil war (1642 - 1648) to ask constitutional reforms and for equal rights in front of the law. They did not have a precise name. Leveller was an abusive word found by their opponents to exaggerate the threat of their ideas.

The Levellers are men who represent the soldiers of the row of the New Model Army.

The main leaders of the movement are John Lilburne, Richard Overton, William Walwyn and John Wildman.

The program of the Levellers includes:

• the " tolérance" nun;
• economic free-trade;
• an extension of the right to vote;
• of the rights guaranteed by a written constitution.

Levellers used the press much to make circulate their ideas.

In April and in May 1649, one attends a mutiny of the Levellers because of a plan of invasion of the Ireland. This rebellion was crushed by Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell.

The movement ceased existing in end 1649.

See too

• Agreement off the People , political proclamation

• Bêcheux, Levelling Truths, True levellers

External bonds

• '' Statement off the Levellers '' (a proclamation leveller )
• '' The Levellers '' on the site '' Civil British Wars, the Commonwealth and Protectorate 1638-60 ''.